scholarly journals Metaphorical perceptions of prospective EFL teachers related to Turkish education system

2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 255-304
Author(s):  
Zehra Keser Özmantar ◽  
Fadime Yalçın Arslan

This study aims to determine prospective teachers’ perceptions on the basic concepts of the education system in terms of its inputs, processes and outputs through metaphors. Phenomenological analysis was used. The participants were senior students from Gaziantep University, English Language Teaching (ELT) department and pedagogic formation program students from the English Language and Literature (ELL) department. The data were collected by asking about metaphorical perceptions related to the concepts of student, parent, school, school principal, curriculum, teaching materials, principles and methods of teaching, assessment and evaluation, ethics, class management, success and graduate students. Content analysis was employed for analysis. Teacher candidates produced 528 valid metaphors related to 13 concepts of education system. Out of these, 269 metaphors were positive, 109 were negative and 150 were related to basic features of education system. While 34 prospective teachers from ELL department produced 338 metaphors, 18 prospective teachers from ELT department produced 190 metaphors. The perceptions of teacher candidates in both groups were similar in terms of teacher, student, parent, school principal, teaching materials, ethics, and success. While ELL department students identified the concepts of school and graduate more positively, ELT department students described curriculum and classroom management more positively.

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 115-134
Author(s):  
Muhammad Ahmad ◽  
Aleem Shakir ◽  
Ali Raza Siddique

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the amount and type of teacher-talk, frequently asked questions and feedback provided by the teacher on learners’ performance in a language classroom. For this purpose, a lecture was recorded from a secondary level English language classroom of a public sector school and interpreted in the light of teacher-student interaction and classroom management model by David Nunan. Results revealed that the maximum amount of time (i.e. 80.1%) was consumed by the teacher which was appropriate. However, certain deviations from classroom management principles were also observed regarding frequently asked questions (i.e. 50% of the total questions were elicitation questions) and the feedback (it was ‘romantic’ in nature). Moreover, wait-time was sufficient but it was of no use to the learners. The study concluded that classroom practices did not conform to the principles therefore, it proposed to ask questions and provide feedback appropriately.


Author(s):  
Yesim Kesli Dollar ◽  
Enisa Mede

This chapter aims to investigate the impact of reflection on freshmen pre-service English teachers' classroom practices. Specifically, it explores how the participating student teachers' perceptions influenced their instructional practices as a result of participation in reflection activities. The participants of the study were ten freshmen student teachers enrolled in the English Language Teaching undergraduate program at a foundation (non-profit private) university in Turkey. Data came from the reflections of the participating student teachers about their recently-completed 15-hour field-based experience at the pre-school level. As a part of this class reflection activity, the participants were prompted to keep a diary in one of their undergraduate courses and respond to a series of statements or questions related to their classroom observation tasks. They were also engaged in class discussions and were required to write their overall feedback based on their field-based experience. The findings of the study revealed that reflective activities helped the prospective student teachers identify their strengths and weaknesses related to classroom activities, use of materials (use of technology and visuals) and classroom management, leading to self-awareness about their understanding and application of teaching skills and strategies.


2018 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 251-260
Author(s):  
Tek Mani Karki

Supplementary resource materials are additional but more useful in English language teaching (ELT). The teacher needs to supplement materials to promote motivation, which is one of the key factors influencing learning. However, there is a lack of study what supporting materials the teachers are using in English language classrooms for teaching learning purposes. This paper attempts to explore the supplementary teaching materials selected and used in ELT classrooms of community schools in Nepal. The information was collected through observations, interviews and focus group discussion. It was found that non-technical visual supplementary teaching materials were used more than technical and audio/audio visual ones. Most of the materials were used for reading and writing purposes. Teachers’ knowledge about technology, carefulness in using appropriate instructional materials/techniques, infrastructure and existing facilities of schools, are the major factors that affect to use the supplementary materials successfully in classrooms.


ELT Journal ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-82
Author(s):  
Hang Su

Abstract This paper explores the applications of pattern grammar and local grammar in English language teaching, focusing specifically on the design of teaching materials. It shows that grammar patterns can be systematically analysed from a local grammar perspective, and further argues that the practice of local grammar analyses helps to raise language learners’ awareness of the patterned nature of language in use and the close association between patterns and meanings. These in turn offer insights into materials writing. A sample coursebook unit is then offered to exemplify how pattern grammar and local grammar can be applied to derive pedagogical materials for English language teaching.


2020 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 189-193
Author(s):  
Z. Zhelyazkova

The article attempts to outline the main characteristics and topics of English language teaching in the most recent historical period in the development of Bulgaria. It envisages the last two decades when intensive English language learning has become a priority, both social and institutional. Taking into account the nature of the language learning, the focus of interest is on the students' attitude to the subject, as well as the main difficulties experienced in the teacher-student interaction. The analysis of the data shows a balance between the teacher's intention and the learner's interpretation, which influences the end result – the actual mastery of the foreign language. The conclusion emphasizes the responsibility of the teacher to judge correctly what the student's expectations are, the freedom of variation that the curriculum gives them, as well as the practical implications of classroom processes for preparing the students for the outside world.


Author(s):  
Babak Dadvand ◽  
Foad Behzadpoor

Pedagogical knowledge has been the subject of theoretical and empirical studies. However, no research has so far integrated the existing scholarship with data to develop and validate a framework for pedagogical knowledge in English language teaching informed by lifelong-learning, complex-system perspectives. In the absence of such research, we used a mixed method research design through a systematic review of the literature, semi-structured interviews with experienced teachers (N=10) and teacher educators (N=10), as well as a survey of 336 practising teachers in Iran to: (1) develop a framework for pedagogical knowledge; and (2) validate this framework by designing a self-assessment questionnaire for pedagogical knowledge. Our analyses yielded a nine-component model that included: knowledge of subject matter; knowledge of teaching; knowledge of students; knowledge of classroom management; knowledge of educational context; knowledge of democracy, equity and diversity; knowledge of tests/exams; knowledge of learning; and knowledge of (professional) self. Within this nine-factor framework, each component of pedagogical knowledge consists of a number of subcomponents. The proposed framework highlights the multidimensionality and complexity of pedagogical knowledge, and the mutually constitutive relationships among different knowledge domains.


2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-29
Author(s):  
Kaharuddin Kaharuddin ◽  
Ismail Ismail

This study is aimed at improving the quality of teaching English at the university level by aligning the students’ needs and the expectations of the lecturers (a needs analysis) with moral values in developing moral character-based English language teaching materials. Development research method is used to carry out this research by employing the ‘I-DO’ methodology which contains three distinct phases namely; 1). The input phase which is passed by a needs analysis involving 60 participants (55 students and 10 lectures). The participants were purposively selected. Questionnaires were used to collect the data which were analyzed by using descriptive approach. 2). The development Phase which is passed by formulating goals and objectives based on the information gathered from the needs analysis. 3) The output phase which is completed by making lesson plans, and producing prototype of the moral value-based teaching materials. This research has built one prototype of a well-developed ELT material for transactional speaking skill. We believe that our findings on the use of ‘I-DO’ methodology could have a profound impact on the way ELT materials is developed in language program.


Author(s):  
Senem Sahin

AbstractThis study of 30 primary teachers of English in Germany used questionnaires to explore their critical reflections on coursebook usage in classrooms. The research questions were: What are primary school teachers’ perceptions of English language teaching materials? What materials are used by primary school English language teachers? What are their reasons for using certain materials? What characteristics define good language teaching materials for primary school English teachers? The participants mostly prefer implementing their own self-designed materials in combination with coursebooks. Given that preparing personal primary school teaching materials is quite time-consuming, the teachers’ arguments for their choice should be explored further to optimize English language teaching. Some argued that self-designed materials are more adjustable to the needs of their students and more authentic. The paper proposes some strategies for striking a balance between teaching English with and without a coursebook, such as making coursebook learning activities more interactive and raising awareness of effective coursebook selection. Different stakeholders can thus collect useful ideas for improvement, including teacher trainers, teachers, student teachers, school administrators, and publishers. 


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document